Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Juan Barreto/AFP/Getty Images

The US says it is sanctioning three nephews of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, among others, as it ramps up its pressure campaign on the South American country.

Two of the sanctioned nephews were previously convicted of drug trafficking charges in the US before being released in a prisoner swap.

The US is also taking aim at Venezuela’s oil sector by sanctioning a Panamanian businessman and six shipping companies that allegedly moved Venezuelan oil.

Additionally, the US Treasury identified six vessels it said were engaged in “deceptive and unsafe shipping practices” that provided financial resources to Maduro’s government.

CNN has reached out to the Venezuelan government for comment.

The sanctions come a day

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